This year's Oktoberfest opened in Bavaria just about two weeks ago. Most of Oktoberfest every year takes place in September, just like you'd expect, and it coincides nicely with the start of fall in most parts of the Northern Hemisphere that aren't the burning hellscape of Central Texas. Here, daily highs
Author: makeitsnowondem
Commentist Beer Barrel: On the Value of Changing Your Mind
"We'll be last brewery in the US to use aluminum cans," Lagunitas founder Tony Maguire tweeted in 2012. Maguire was shocked by the excesses of the aluminum industry, an earth-destroying enterprise preying on developing economies and potentially displacing good, sustainable, silica-based manufacturing of glass beer vessels. Or that's what it
Commentist Beer Barrel: Nora Brought Out The Brandy
To me, the best consequence of the saturation of the craft beer market over the last seven or so years with beers aged in whiskey barrels has been the saturation of the craft beer market with beers aged in whiskey barrels. Whiskey barrels—specifically American bourbon barrels—are, in my opinion, the best
Commentist Beer Barrel: Skål!
Denmark got a big Olympic win today, overcoming France for the gold medal in handball. I thought about burying the lede on this, in case any Commentists log onto the site while desperately avoiding Olympic handball spoilers, but... look, I just didn't think that was very likely, y'know? I'll apologize
Commentist Beer Barrel: It’s A Trappist!
On spring break, in 2007, in a hidden-away bar in Brussels, there was a college junior, sitting with a group of new friends, listening attentively to the server's descriptions of the classic Belgian beers on offer. He didn't especially understand the descriptions, so he did what any college junior with no
Commentist Beer Barrel: You Know Who I Like, Is That Pickle Stork
Pickles are a great, great food. On their own, they're a fantastic low-calorie snack, sharp and bright and zesty and satisfying. They're also a great ingredient, perfect in, say, yeah right's Cubano sandwich. I even once had them on a Cubano-inspired pizza, and why on earth are you talking about pickles in a
Commentist Beer Barrel: Cocktail Hour
Commentist Beer Barrel: Coffeebeernerdness Reloaded
Commentist Beer Barrel and Open Thread: Singled Out
Commentist Beer Barrel: Who’s For Curry?
So, let's just get this out of the way: I promised you all a bonus Beer Barrel on the Fourth, and I didn't deliver. I had something already picked out, had started writing the post, and then I found out I had a job interview to prepare for and promptly
Commentist Beer Barrel: The Gods Must Be Nuts
I wasn't expecting to come back to brown ales so soon. When I took over the Beer Barrel, my first review was of Abita Turbodog, my favorite brown ale and one of the few beers in that style that I don't think are completely boring. I'm sorry! I'm sure there are a
